Osborne Rues Saturday Clash to Finish 7th in Sweden
Flying the flag for the USA in the FIM Motocross World Championship three time ‘podiumee’ in 2010, Bike it Cosworth Yamaha’s Zach Osborne, finished a creditable 7th in the Grand Prix of Sweden at Uddevalla on Sunday.
The flamboyant 20 year old rode to 7th and 9th positions in the two 35 minute and 2 lap motos under grey skies, across a damp and bumpy terrain and watched by 22,000 spectators. Osborne’s speed at the natural and undulating layout was enough to expect a fourth set of silverware but an accident in Saturday’s Qualification Heat when controversial Russian Aleksandr Tonkov landed on the 2009 Turkish GP winner meant a DNF and last place in the gate for Sunday’s races.
Osborne defied the odds to make two mid-pack starts among the 38-rider throng and picked his way through the field with aplomb. His second outing may have resulted in a lower placing but it was an eye-catching performance after a first lap spill. Number ‘338’ attacked a group of seven riders in the last ten minutes and successfully reeled-past six.
"What happened on Saturday was not my fault," he recounted. "Tonkov landed on top of me and I have the tyre marks on my back to prove it. Today was hard from the outside and it was maybe an extra 60 or 70 extra feet to the inside of the first turn. The first race was OK but I would say the second one was my better ride; the fact that I came from so far behind to ninth on a track that was not simple for passing was pretty good. In a way I am disappointed with a 7th and a 9th because my speed here meant I should have been better than that. It can’t all be rainbows and butterflies though."
"I feel like I have missed a lot of good opportunities this season with falls and stuff but I am fifth in the championship and as long as I can stay healthy until the end of the year and get something out of 2010 then I will be happy," he added.
Osborne is keen to keep his hat in selection contention for the 2010 Motocross of Nations US team and hopes his 5th position in the world championship standings and experience against some of Europe’s best might stand him in good stead. There are still five Grands Prix left on the calendar with trips to Belgium, Czech Republic, Brazil, Holland and Italy remaining. Osborne will also aim to increase his lead in the Maxxis British Championship with round five of eight in three week’s time at Foxhills. "It is kinda disappointing that the result wasn’t better now that the Nations team is being considered," he admitted. "I had the speed for a podium or win here this weekend which would have been good timing."
Keep up to-date with Zach’s European adventures with his new blog at: www.osborneoracle.blogspot.com
MX2 Moto1
1. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 4. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 5. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 6. Harri Kullas (Yam); 7. Zach Osborne (Bike it Cosworth Yamaha); 8. Joel Roelants (KTM); 9. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 10. Chirstophe Charlier (Yam);
MX2 Moto2
1. Ken Roczen (Suz); 2. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 3. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 4. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 5. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 6. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 7. Michael Leib (Kaw); 8. Joel Roelants (KTM); 9. Zach Osborne (Bike it Cosworth Yamaha); 10. Matiss Karro (Suz);
MX2 Overall Result
1. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 3. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 4. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 5. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 6. Joel Roelants (KTM); 7. Zach Osborne (Bike it Cosworth Yamaha); 8. Ken Roczen (Suz); 9. Michael Leib (Kaw); 10. Shaun Simpson (KTM);
|MX2 World Championship standings after 10 of 15 rounds
1. Marvin Musquin (438); 2. Ken Roczen (355); 3. Steven Frossard (355); 4. Jeffrey Herlings (326); 5. Zach Osborne (275); 6. Shaun Simpson (268); 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (244); 8. Arnaud Tonus (243); 9. Joel Roelants (240); 10. Harri Kullas (203);
